I was talking to a bartender last night and I asked him about how the CIAA went for his business. He said business was normal, but that he'd talked to several friends at Uptown restaurants. His friends told him that a lot of the CIAA fans didn't tip.
I wasn’t surprised to hear that. I've often heard that black people don't tip, but I don’t understand how that can be true. I tip bartenders and waitresses. My friends tip as well. I have one buddy who is so worried about being perceived as a non-tipper that he over-tips even if he gets bad service. I won’t do all that, but I will call the manager over and request another server or report any poor service I’ve received.
In 1999, a Miami restaurant owner faced a discrimination lawsuit because he automatically charged black patrons 15 percent gratuity because he said sometimes blacks don't tip well.
A 2003 study by the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration found that many servers felt African Americans often tip 20 percent less than white diners. Plus, of all races disliked waiting on black people because they assume the tips will be less no matter how good the service.
That's messed up.
Black patrons what's up? Do you at least tip 15 percent and if not why? If you have bad service, do you report it to managment?
To restaurant workers, do you notice a difference in the tipping patterns of whites and blacks? And servers, do you treat black patrons differently because you don't believe you'll get a good tip?
Post your comments below. Please no racial slurs, they won't be posted.
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Do black people tip?
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85 comments:
Well, I can state they when I've gone out to lunch with some so-workers who are black, they often no not tip or barely tip. But I wouldnt say all black people dont tip cause I also have black friends that do tip. I was always told that the so-called "black" clubs drinks cost more and cover usually cost more though to make up for the lack of tips, etc.
i tip outta control. where do black people win? we get bad service because they think we don't tip...we don't tip because we get bad service....chicken and the egg.
- decker
Tonya: I'm white and I used to be married to a black man. He didn't tip. Whenever I called him on it, saying that waitstaff and barkeeps make about $2 per hour (the going rate at the time), he didn't believe it. I also have friends who tend bar and I remember when the Courvoisier & Coke was a big seller. The bar charged 9.50 for the drink, and the patrons would tip 50 cents! I don't think it's racist to say that most of the C&C devotees were black. (Of course, it may have been racist to charge that for a drink.) But I'll usually leave about a buck per drink--a $4 pint gets a $1 tip, for example.
This is one stereotype that is true. Just like anyone else, I worked at a restaurant where the black customers would leave just the change... so if the bill was $34.59, they'd leave 41 cents.
Even still sometimes they'd take the quarters and just leave dimes, nickels and pennies!
I am a waitress in an uptown hotel I am also Hispanic. I and my co-workers have had this discussion all weekend. I tried to stand up for black people and give a defense to them to the white bartender. I fully understand the idea of one of the comments above stating that black people don't tip because they feel like they are going to get bad service. But if you get good service they why not tip? I gave good service no matter who was sitting at the table white, black, young or old and so did my co-worker the white bartender. Yet we didn't make any money all weekend. Black people continued to prove the bartender right. That black people tend not to tip and if they do it's less than 3 no matter the size of the bill. Needless to say working last night we made more money than we had all weekend when business was back to normal.
Let's not paint everybody with the same brush... I'm black/female/44yrs old and I tip! My rationale to deciding what and when to tip may not be in line with "tipping protocol" but then again, when and where can I find the official tipping guide? I tip $2 or 18% of the bill which ever is GREATER! In other words, if my bill total is $7, I leave a $2 tip (The minimum I think anyone should be left for bringing me food and drink!). If my bill total is $40 I leave $7 (18% of $40 rounded to the nearest dollar). I read somewhere that the 15% applies to total food cost (not food cost and taxes). In which case I've been over tipping for 20 years! Maybe restaurants should put basic tipping 101 on the menu? That way customers will know that tipping is NOT OPITIONAL! Sincerely, DHolmesNC of Charlotte...
I worked for years as a pizza delivery driver and I would estimate that 80% of blacks dont tip 10% tiped below average and 10% tipped above average
Ask 100 bar owners, and 100 will tell you blacks don't tip nearly as well as whites, if at all. Typically most leave just the coins from whatever drinks they buy.
I recently took notice of an interesting situation at a local restaurant. A large black family had finished their meal and were preparing to leave. Several people put cash on the table, but none more than two dollars. One of the older women lagged behind the rest of the group and when they were all out of sight, she grabbed everything that the others had left, put it in her purse and walked out, leaving nothing for the poor server.
I tip and most of my friends and family tip. However I once had to almost fight my stepdad who wanted to leave a dollar on a 4 person tab at a nominal restaurant. I think it's more the older generation that [doesnt/forgets/don't even think of] tipping.
I'm a bartender in Charlotte, and have been for a while, and this stereotype is dead-on true. Why is it that when we have "black" shows the bar owner has to tip us out at the end of the night (usually healthy amounts), because we get hosed on tips the entire night. If he didn't do this, nobody would work those nights. When there are "white" shows (jam bands, etc.) the owner doesn't even think to do this as we all make out very well those nights. It is what it is, they don't tip.
From my experiences I can't give a fair comparison between black people vs. white people tipping mainly because most of the people I've eat out with are black. However, I do tip and most of the people that I eat out with tip as well(15% or more of the bill). The few people that I have eaten out with that have a problem tipping are just cheap, period (in all aspects of their life). The problem I have with wait staff is that a majority of them act as if a tip is mandatory regardless of service. A tip is optional and I tip based on the service received. Bad service-no tip! Great service- great tip! I have never complained to management before when I have received poor service, but I will start doing so in the future. Maybe restaurants should start having a comment card at each table where patrons can complete after their meal because there are a lot of servers out there that don't know what they are doing or don't want to be there in first place. I'm from Raleigh, and the experience that I and few other people that I asked had all weekend was that we had to wait a long time for our food. Regardless of how busy the restaurant was. One time we waited 30-40 min for 3 meals and we were the only ones ordering at the time. Is that how it is in Charlotte?
Interesting topic!! I wonder how businesses that typically cater to Blacks did during the CIAA weekend.
Do blacks tip any better in these places? Just wondering.
Hello! TIPPING IS NOT MANDATORY!!! If you don't like dealing with the irregularities of customers, get a real job!
My husband and I constantly have this conversation about tipping. We look around restaurants to see who leaves and tip and who does not. 50% of the time AA's do not leave tips. I just don't understand it. If my service is horrible the waiter gets $2. If the food and the service are bad I speak with a manager and let him know that because of the experience I will not leave a tip. Usually this gets us a free meal upon our return, but that's not what I want. I want good food/good service! When we eat out we leave a minimum of 15% or $2 whichever is greater. AA people need to do better when it comes to eating out.
Why is this? Do blacks tip bad because they don't know any better? Or they don't care? Or they get bad service because the wait staff believe they will tip bad?
Whatever it is, it needs to be addressed. Black folks need to be educated on the subject. It's AMERICAN culture to tip- that means all races need to be on the same page. This kind of behavior is another way for bigots to look down upon other races.
I am a cook and i hear all the time that black people never leave tips or that they leave like a dollar or two no matter the bill. And these comments come from black servers as well as any other race. Obviously not all are poor tippers it just seems like more than other demographic groups.
Wow, I tipped well at CIAA in hopes that a thread like this would not surface. Given the response level, I would have to say that this is a legit sample saying we don't tip...I'm a black male and I always tip regardless of the service. If the service is bad the tip is bad (around 10-15%), but I have to admit it's rare that I get bad service (maybe it's because I'm 6'5".) I usually tip around 20% or above. For me I hate to do all math at the end of the bill so I take the simple way out. In Charlotte I usually do 3 times the tax since the tax is around 6-6.5% + round it up to the nearest dollar. At the bar the min for a tip on a beer is $1. If it's crowded and the bartender got to me quick it's $2. If I know I will be drinking a lot that night and it's crowded I will start off with a $10 tip to get quick attention all nite. We also should not forget to tipthe coat check people, people at hotel who flag down cabs, and the housekeepers who keep our rooms nice for mulitiple day trips, and others.
Quite often my wife has to reel in my tipping. :)
Thats not a very good indictment if so. I just try to always tip at least 20% because I have been there before and I know what it takes to be a server/waiter. Plus I take personal responsibility for trying to help the local economy. If for some freak reason I get poor service I tip ONE penny to send a message. I don't make a big stink but you can bet that server got the point and did better for all.
I'm a black man and I will say that I do at least leave a tip when I go out, especially if I have it to give. It does depend on the service though! If the service is good, then I will leave a tip, if not, I won't leave anything. I do think it is rude for people to not leave a tip, especially if the waiter or waitress goes out of their way to provide as good a service as they possibly can and the customer, white or black, don't even bother to leave them anything! I can't speak for everyone else, but I will tip out of courtesy, especially if I felt that I received very good service.
I'm white, so forget the racial thing. I leave a decent tip, but never way over the top unless the server captures my imagination. If I was black, the waiter would say, 'well he was black so he only left me 15%' ... but because I am white the waiter would say ... 'well he left me 15% so I guess everything was OK.' Oh yeah, tipping is just like everything else, eye of the beholder.
Tipping IS mandatory - it's paying for a service. If the plumber comes to your house, do you pay him only for his materials? of course not - you pay him for his time as well. When you go to the mechanic, don't you pay him for the time he spent on your car? If he was rude to you, do you dock him a half hour's worth of work? Of course not. Tipping is paying for a service, poorly rendered or not. Servers are paid, by law, half minimum wage, and often get no paycheck at all, after taxes. 15% bad service - 20% or more for good service. A penny for poor service? You should be ashamed. That's theft of service and rude as well. That overworked and underappreciated person worked for you for an hour and a half and you paid him a penny. I'm embarrassed for you.
Matthew Childs
Statistically: 76% of blacks DON'T TIP. I worked in 2 restuarants where we (the wait staff) sometimes kept informal tally's of tippers by race. You can cry all you want about racism, but you can't argue with the numbers, and 73% was the long term average. You might be surprized by how many waiters/waitresses/hostesses keep a secret, written score card!!
This is response to the comment
"some black people are cheap. just like some white people, asian people, hispanic people, etc. ONLY with us does it become about race."
You are totally incorrect. Asians and Jews often are the subject of this topis as well. I am hispanic and all I can say to you is stop making excuses, it is what it is!
For those of you that are black and posted on this blog that you DO tip, I commend you!! Because being a bartender/waitress we do NOT want to wait on black people. PERIOD! ITS TYPICAL that MOST do not tip, every now and then one would shock you and actually leave something but its RARE! I have had many conversations about it with friends and the only thing they could think of is they dont realize that we are working for the tips. One place I worked at showed a fight one night and MAN we couldnt ask off quick enough. And another person said it correctly that the owner has to tip us out or we would quit! Also, why do you think 'black' events cost more to get into...got to pay your staff somehow! and its pretty typical that blacks will run your butt off too and nothing you can is right in their eyes. (and NO ITS NOT ME, it happens to everyone) I am glad Tonya brought this up because maybe more people will take note about it.
I am one of those folks who tips even for poor service. I tell myself that I am tipping for the next poor soul that sits in that particular servers area. I hate that this is even a topic of discussion but the fact of the matter is "out-of-towners" are generally low tippers. It has little to do with race. I was downtown, hated the service & the food but still left a more than reasonable tip!!!
i hate to read so many posts supporting this stereotype. i'm black and i always tip a minimum of 15%...even more if the server is really nice. everyone i dine out with tips. some people are just cheap in general, but i chose not to eat out with those people. my dad (who is black) always taught me that you shouldn't eat out if you can't afford to tip. my husband actually over-tips even when the service is bad because he doesn't want to be perceived as "another black person who doesn't tip". the notion that all black people don't tip is false.
I have spent plenty of time waiting tables, so I speak from experience. Regardless of race, sex, or age, there are people that are cheap. Unfortunately, blacks make up a much higher percentage of cheap tippers than any other demographic. It makes those of us blacks who do tip well, look bad.
In response to some of the other comments posted. This IS a cultural issue and I challenge my fellow blacks to educate our people on this issue. Tipping should be considered mandatory. The price you pay on the menu is for food. A tip is to pay for someone to bring you your food and drink, clean up after you, do your dishes, etc. The defiant folks that have made comments like "TIPPING IS NOT MANDATORY", are ignorant and make blacks look bad. For those folks, please stay away from sit-down restaurants and enjoy some McDonalds or KFC.
Hate to say it but it is true. My friend works at a very upscale restaurant uptown. The servers get angry with her whenever she sits black people in their section. especially black woman. They still give them good service, but it is not rewarding for them to provide to great service, because they know they will not get anything for tip. These servers are greedy because they make alot money doing what they do, but service is service. I dont care who you are but if somebody is serving you, bad service or good service, they deserve something. When we go out it is an automatic 20%, and to get less you really need to screw up. They are out there trying to make living too.
This not only applies to restaurants, but anybody that provides a service, such as coat checks, bars, and valet for cars.
stereotypically, you dont want black people as patrons if you are on a "tip only" job. (Valet parker)
bartenders make about..$3 / hr and servers/waiters the same....
they rely on tips from patrons!!!
Everybody needs to tip, white, black, asian, indian, mexican, european, EVERYBODY!!!!
I've been in situations where I've been out dining with a black person on a corporate expense account and the tip was less than 5% for excellent service. This was for a meal entirely on somebody else's tab!
I agree with Matthew Childs. Tipping IS mandatory. 15% is a starting point; that's what the servers are SUPPOSE to get. Anything above that is for good, better, or great service. But regardless of service tipping IS mandatory.
I also agree that it is many of the older generation that's not "hip" to the tipping game. Many younger affluent Blacks DO tip.
Those that don't tip and those that support those that don't tip by saying "Blacks make less than the whites" and "we don't go out as often"; well stay your a*# home. If you can't afford tip for service then don't go out!
I live in DC and you couldn't get away with not tipping here. I ALWAYS tip; 15% no matter what but more if I receive exceptional service. If I don't receive good service, I will let the server and the manager know.
I even tip my hairstylist (and she's expensive). One of my friends in Charlotte doesn't tip her stylist; she told me "that's her job to do my hair". WOW!
Even most employers give their workers a bonus once or twice a year.
Come on Black Folks, step up to the plate and tip!
" on average african americans make .64 to the white mans dollar. many times some of us are doing good to go out - much less factor in exorbitant tips."
This statement is a cop out.Nobody is saying you need to tip exorbitantly, but if you can't afford to go someplace and leave a 15% tip, you should go someplace less expensive.
It's very obvious in many cases, that servers do not want black patrons, as one previous comment stated. It's sometimes in their body language, and/or a lack of attentiveness.
So how do we break the cycle? Is the answer just bigger and appropriate tips by blacks, or should it begin with better service on the front end? Since everyone has to make a living, I agree that tipping should be mandatory. However, I also believe the amount of the tip should be based on the quality of the service. No, I'm not talking about penalizing the server because the kitchen is backed up. It the level of concern and attention, or the lack thereof.
Take a job, any job...if you only get a "needs improvement" on your performance review, should you expect and receive a "meets" or "exceeds" pay increase?
yeah, yeah, yeah...
Black people don't tip
White people can't dance
Mexicans work of pennies
Hispanics will stab you
And the sterotypes go on and on.
You know what? If you are worried about what you will be tipped and you feel cheated out of your money...Get another profession.
I usually tip about 15-18% percent when I go out and if I get bad service I am sure to tell the waiter or waitress that the service was bad and then ask what do you think I should tip you?
All in all complain all you want...No one is obligated to tip at all. Its not the law, its a courtesy. The same as opening the door for someone or holding the elevator. Hell if its all that important tell me when my food is ready I will go in the back and get it myself. You know what I know a whole lot of white people who don't tip either but you don't single them out. Why is this brought up because the CIAA was here? Did you ask that question when the ACC tournament was here?
When the revenue numbers come out for the CIAA which will probably be around $12-16 million...find out how much of that was for tips? amd then ask that bartender what could you have done better to get a better tip...and why was your business so normal when other businesses flourished during the event. Could it be possible this bartender works at Latorre's or Menage???
I remain
Ok, the funny part is, I've never looked around to see if other tables have left a tip and I find it very odd that several comments mention this. I'm a 35-year old black female, educated from "up north." It is SO SCARY to read these comments, it makes me rethink why I moved down here when most of my friends warned me of the "racist south." I ALWAYS tip. Usually 20%, but always at least 15%, even if service is mediocre. I have never EVER not left a tip. This is such a horrible stereotype. All of my black friends tip, as do all of my family members. So what does that say?
First off tipping, though a part of American culture, DID NOT start in America. Popular theory is that the T.I.P. is an acronym of "to insure promptness" from 17th century England. The TIP was given BEFORE the meal in higher caliber establishments.
Not ALL black people don't tip just as not ALL white people do. I am a black man. I make it a point to tip and show my kids how to do so. I also tip my barber.
I also think that this is about the inconsiderations of people, not races. I tip as well as my friends and family. I have also over-tipped to combat crappy ideology like this some of this thread.
The server has nothing to do with the taste of the food. But, they have everything to do with their own attitude and service. I can choose to reward it well or not.
I waited table for 3 years and would never have believed it if not for witnessing it first hand. When a bigtop of black folks entered the restaurant, all the servers would rush to the host stand to make sure and seat them in someone else's section. If that's not enough for you, chew on this. Even the black servers at the restaurant didn't want to wait on their fellow African Americans. Sorry, folks, it is what it is, facts don't lie.
Race aside - have you ever been in the service industry?
People who have, whether they are black, white or purple tip the best. You know why? Same reason people who have worked in retail never, ever tary in a store 5 minutes before closing time.
All servers make $2.13/hour - not only does your server expect you to tip - your federal government does as well. It's the decent thing to do when you request your food a special way, forgot to ask for ketchup, need a straw and your server complies. :)
I've been a server (to the person who commented about getting a "real job" - guess it's a good thing you never eat out.) and I have a 2nd job in a coffee house here in Charlotte...
Black people don't tip. But neither do white women. Black women are the worst tippers and the worst people to wait on. Why is that????? And why is it that they aren't nice to any race of server and they don't tip their own girls any better??
Latin American people, are the best people to wait on, and I never cared about their tip.
White men are the best tippers on the planet. Is it race? Maybe not. Women make less $$ then men (in either race). (HISTORICALLY) So, maybe it is about economics more than race.
Last poster - I wouldn't worry about the "racist south". My comments and I would believe, none of the posters on here are racist. I grew up in the North as well, and I carry the same outlook - we are all people, created in the image of our Maker.
I used to be a waitress so I know how important it is for those who work for tips to get a tip. Over the weekend I went out with 5 other females at Fridays and only two of us left a tip. I left a $3 tip and I think my bill was about $7 or $8. I will not say that I always tip. I don't tip the pizza delivery person, but maybe I will start.
I think that everyone in america needs to work in a service job that relies on tips or providing a service for one month. Then hopefully no matter the color of your skin, you would realize that you should tip for a service that is being provided...Try it some time.!
It's not sterotype, it's fact. I bet if someone wanted to bad enough they could get a comprehensive study to prove this. It's in the numbers, you can't blame the server for looking out for themselves. I waited tables for several years and witnessed it first hand. Hell if get stiffed and have to pay tip out to the host or bartender you actually LOSE money on the table. This is exactly why people act on the well founded sterotype.
HERE'S A TIP...READ A BOOK and LEARN HOW TO EXPRESS YOURSELF PROPERLY...NO WONDER YOUR SERVING TABLES.
I agree that everyone should work in a service industry for a short time to see what it is like. You should always tip! First hand knowledge, black diners on average tip way less and require much more, especially on Sunday's after church when the whole family goes out. Work your butt off for 1 to 1/2 hrs running back and forth and you might get $2 if you are lucky. Everyone should read up on tipping protocal. Info easy to find online.
"HERE'S A TIP...READ A BOOK and LEARN HOW TO EXPRESS YOURSELF PROPERLY...NO WONDER YOUR SERVING TABLES."
This is great, an english lesson from someone who can't write a complete sentence. The correct use of the word "your" would also be nice teacher. In the context it is used in your sentence it should read "you're", as in "you are".
I know plenty of intelligent people in the waitress and bartender professions. Most make a very comfortable living and made the choice to work in this industry.
The only people who can change the perception that the vast majority obviously have on this issue are the African American people themselves.
If you don't believe in paying for a service, don't use it!
"HERE'S A TIP...READ A BOOK and LEARN HOW TO EXPRESS YOURSELF PROPERLY...NO WONDER YOUR SERVING TABLES."
Take your own advice and how about YOU learn to express yourself properly. The word should be (you're), replacing (you are) not (your).
I am a 56 year old African American woman from "up North" transplanted to the "New South". I am amazed at this string of comments on black folks' tipping habits. I had taken my elderly mother on an outing for the day. We were very tired, and mother wanted to eat at a "nice" restaurant in Southpark area of Charlotte where we lived. New to the area, we did not know one restaurant from the other. So when I was directed to a very upscale looking reaturant that was about a block away, I hurriedly took mother there. We knew nothing about the restaurant, other than it looked very nice, and people with whom we spoke enroute stated it was an elegant place with excellent food. 'Nuff said! Mother, physically disabled and in a wheelchair was tired, and we were both hungry.
When we entered the restaurant patrons nearly broke their necks looking in our in our direction. I attributed this to my mom's being in a wheelchair. Duh. Not so.
After some time wait staff attended us and we got water...then "Starbucks?" coffee. Then we waited ...again. The waiter finally came to take our orders. Mom ordered the filet mignon and I (a vegetarian) ordered a plate of vegetables of the day. After an HOUR's wait and after seeing others get served who had arrived AFTER we did, our food FINALLY arrived. The filet was shriveled up and near burnt. My mom could not chew it no matter how I chopped and tried to saw it up. (We took it home in a doggie bag later and threw it in the trash. Inedible.) My "vegetable plate" was a mountain of raw green beans,a large baked potato that was OK, and seated precariously atop my veggies was what appeared to be a underdone large HEAD of broccoli. (I took the veggies home in a doggie bag and finished cooking and seasoning them at home.) The meal with coffee and water came to nearly $100. I tip $20.00 or 20%. I was reluctant to do so, given the insulting service. But I felt for the Hispanic wait staff, whom I knew earned their "salary" from tips. I also bore in mind the years my mother and many of her contemporaries had to wait tables because that was the only work they could get. So I tipped --decently I think. I did not make much money either!
The owners or chef(s) at that restaurant probably laughed at our being crazy enought to tip, given the poorly served and poorly cooked food; however; they did not know the tip was for the many servers I knew worked at $3.14 an hour PLUS TIPS.
Too bad restauranteurs couldn't just pay their servers and bartenders a living wage. Then this entire conversatin would be moot. But guess what, my family would still tip, and tip generously.
I feel that this discussion is Way past due especially in Charlotte. Having worked at one time at Outback on East Blvd I know first hand that some black people tip well but the majority do not. Sorry this is not a prejudice thing or hate or anything like that, and don't try to make it out that way, it is just the way it is. Now yes there are white people that don't tip but the percentage is much smaller. Actually I have found that some of the wealthiest white people tip the worst or at the bottom of the acceptable spectrum. People that have waited tables usually tip the best, which is understandable. We become critical but we also accept that it is not an easy job.
Again it use to bug me to all ends because I felt racist, I hated it. I didn't want to single tables out due to something such as color because we can't be going back to that...
I had tables though telling me I was "da bomb" and thanking me endlessly for my service and then on an $80.00 tab they leave $5.00, 15% the minimum is $12.00. It made me mad and as others have said even the black servers felt the same way. Gratuity of some kind is required, needed. We make very little and don't tell us to find a new profession don't go out to eat if you don't know how to pay for the service. Now if a waiter is openly rude to you or you can tell they are not giving you good service then by all means I say leave a very small tip. However if the server is busy and doing their best and every time he/she comes back to the table you are asking for more things cut them a break and leave over 18%.
The problem with leaving nothing is they have to tip out a bus boy and sometimes a host based on sales not based on what you decided to leave.
There is also nothing worse than spending 10 minutes trying to get you change for a 100 dollar bill and having you leave me $3.00 on a $30.00 tab.
I once asked a good friend of mine who is AA what I should do. I explained the situation to him that I loved my tables that were black because they were usually the most fun, but then at the end I always got shafted. Him being a black man told me not to wait on them... Not exactly possible or the answer I was looking for. He informed me that black people just don't tip well for the most part unless they have waited tables or unless they had friends that had. He has become a good tipper and did what the other guy suggested throwing out a $10.00 at the beginning of the night and you do get better service at a bar. By all means a $1 per drink or at least per trip to the bar is the standard; your quarter left over from a $6.75 drink doesn't cut it.
Well maybe this will wake some people up, I like to say I think so but I really doubt it. I'm just glad I only wait tables for side money now since I have a job with a steady check. It sure makes life easier because the feelings you start to get night after night when you work hard and get stiffed by a table of black people, well those feelings are not healthy and they have no place in this great country.
-T.
To the person who agreed with Matthew Childs, and all...I live in DC now also, and having worked in both cities at an expensive restaurant, it seems black guests tip better here in general than they did in Charlotte. I love black people as a group; I just want to make as much money as I can. I'm guessing it's a lack of knowledge on the subject on their part - many black servers I know try to escape waiting on black tables. It's not racism, it's just hard-working people wanting to be able to pay their own rent and phone bills. Servers would love to wait on black people if they tipped well as a rule. The indignant contributors here can't think that restaurant jobs simply attract racist applicants, or that servers are completely blinded by an all-consuming attempt to slander black people. The reality is there. We love you, we just want pay our bills. Thanks.
Matthew Childs
I have heard it said that everyone coming out of high school and into the real word should be made to work for tips for at least 1 year, to learn the hardships for customer service for a fee.
I agree.
I think most people in general don't know that waitstaff and bartenders only make $2.13 an hour. At the bar I work at even the black servers are not tipped well by the black patrons. Yet at the end of each shift we have to tip out the host and bar based on our sales, not our tips which leaves us "paying" to wait on tables that don't tip well. The average is usually 3-8% of the sales gets "tipped out".
With this in mind I would encourage all people to tip 18-22% for good service, especially if they get drinks. If you sit at the table for more than an hour, for example 3 hours to watch a game, you must remember that in that time the server could have had 3 different parties at that table, at this point you have to look at your tab and how long you have been there when you tip you server. I have seen parties spend $120 on food and drinks, staying for 3-4 hours and leave $6 or which $4 was tipped out to the bar. These were white customers.
Bad tipping comes in all colors but it is more likely that minorites will tip less.
I think tipping bartenders is way different than waiters/waitresses. I generally tip 15-20% for wait service. But when I go to the bar, have money in hand, struggle to get the bartenders' attention because they are talking to each other, watch them serve another person who came to the bar after me, then finally get them and hand them a $5 for a warm $3.75 beer where all they do is pop the top....then I have a problem leaving them the $1.25 change which would be 33%! I know they work hard, but they also expect a lot for providing less than good service.
The problem is general is the people who are the worst tippers are the ones who are most demanding. They view it as you start off at $0 and how hard i can work you and how well you do, i will add $$$ to your tip. That is just wrong.
If you dont want to tip. STAY HOME!!!!!!!
Both our sons served as wait staffers when they were in school. I know how important tips are to wait staff. Some don't even receive the minimum wage so they rely heavily on those tips! If you are not tipping at LEAST 15% please start.
i dont think anyone would dare claim that everyone of any race were bad tippers, but based on percentages black folks don't tip well. the only way to fix it is for black folks to tip better accross the board and for the wait staff to treat each patron the same regardless of race/color/etc.
bad/non tippers of all races suck.
dave
It you cannot afford to tip than you cannot afford to go out to eat!
anonymous says:
I, like your friend, tend to overtip. As a parent, I also try to clean up the mess we made so that the waiter/waitress will not have to work as hard. I will also tip for my friends that will not tip as well and make a mental note not to go out with them anymore.
D
I sure would like to find out the race of the servers that say that Blacks don't tip well. Maybe Blacks don't tip White servers well because the White server gave them second class service, unlike they would give to another white! I am Black, and I tip my server (Black or white) based on the service I receive.
i work in service industry and blacks do not tip. very seldom if ever if a black will tip me. the ciaa was a financial bust as far as a lot of people are concerned and do not look forward to it coming next year.
This is sad. Being an African-American I am sorry to hear that this is what you have to deal with as bartenders and waiters. I tip $15 or more depending on the service. I have tipped above and beyond when the service is better. I kinda knew that this was a stereotype out there so I try to tip better just to show people that we are not all like this. With all that said. I beg of you "PLEASE DO NOT GIVE BAD SERVICE OR RELUCTANTLY SERVE ME BECAUSE OF IT". I work hard for my money and I tip well, so when I go to a bar or eat out I expect good service and I hope you are not pre-judging me because of the color of my skin. Thank you for opening my eyes though. Now I understand why the service can be bad from time to time. Sad really!
I had no idea that this stereotype existed and I don't know if it is true or not.
I am white female and am very frugal with my money but I tip well. So does my husband - he actually tips too well!
My mom who is in her 70s is a terrible tipper. I often supplement her tips (behind her back) before we leave a restaurant. She doesn't understand that the servers are not paid well and doesn't understand that they can't survive without the tip. Maybe that it where this whole problem comes from - lack of knowledge.
Also, for the person who said they don't tip the pizza delivery person but might start - please do. The amount that the delivery person gets from the restaurant barely covers gas. The only way to make money delivering pizzas is from tips - you make nothing otherwise. I know - I've been there.
I think what people are not considering is the issue of class. I think because we are a black and white society we see everything black and white. I am a waitress and have been for going on 3 years.No im not a highschool dropout I am a first year college student. In my opinion (due to my experience i think it counts) lower class white people and lower class blacks tip the same. Upper class black and upper class whites tip the same. If a hick hillbilly comes in he will tip the same as a low class black person that comes in. However if i middle class white person comes in and a middle class black person comes in they will tip the same. White hicks and hill billys tip just as poorly as a ghetto black person. A upper middle class black family will tip just as well as upper middle class white family. Of course I have had black people tip bad. But of course I have had white people tip bad also.One of the biggests tip I ever had came from a black family of 3. Their bill was maybe a little under 45 dollars and they left a tip of 25.
As someone who works as a waiter, blacks do tend to tip less than other ethnic groups as a whole but there are some other trends as well. Females by themselves or in groups do not tip very well as a rule. I have to be honest, the best tippers are a group of white men between the age of 25-45. They tip. No exceptions , they tip well.
if everyone took your advice & quit the jobs w/poor pay, organized their labor, or moved to Utah, who would be left to bring you your creme brulee?
i am glad to see discussions of this nature taking place. while it is painful it does allow us to begin a dialogue where our personal, racial, or cultural deffinitions can be displayed,examined and critiqued, and that is how we as humans will eventually come to understand one another.
so this is why, as a black man, I receive such poor service downtown (?)
hmmm... the people are not racist, they just think i wont give them a tip
never thought about that
I have worked in a resturant for over five years. Yes, that is the preception that african americans do not tip well, or do not know what is a "decent tip"(10-20percent depending on how many people in the party). I'm not saying this is true 100 precent of the time. I do not believe in giving one table better or worse service over the next, even if you know that person doesn't tip well. I honestly feel that some people, but it seems to happen more with aftrican americans, that they do not know how much to tip or do not believe that tippig isnt neccesary. (servers at most resturants depend on tips, seeing they only get paid 2.13 a hour).
I really don't know what black people you are discussing. My family, friends, coworkers and I all tip well, except when we have received very poor service. Poor service in my opinion does not mean the food was slow in arriving but we are ignored and the waiters attitude is terrrible. I understand what the waiters have to go through;I am sympathic to the hard work and treatment they endure from customers so I am friendly and patience up to a point. I believe you should phrase that as "some people" of all races, do not tip well.
I am a Black male in my mid-20's, and I always make it a point to tip at least %15 whenever I eat out or patronize a bar. However, I usually do not tip when I call an order in, as there is really no "service" to speak of.
Different Cultures view things differently. I simply feel that African American culture views tipping as something optional. I think restaurants need to place a nice note in each menu explaining the importance of tipping, as well as a comment card if you elect to not tip. This will educate the customers on proper tipping, while at the same time allow the manager a direct access point to receive feedback.
I would like to respond to JusTressie's comments.
While I think your statements were thought provoking, I would like to disagree with your assumption that the owner's of the establishment would rather the customer come & not tip, rather than not come at all--
Not true. My husband & I have done every job in the industry, meaning we have both been waiters,hosts, dishwashers,prep & line cooks & mangers.We are now local restaurant owners & we both care very much about the happiness of our employees & if they are repeatedly "stiffed", you can be sure we are going to look at their service & find fault. You would be amazed at how aware we are of which of are regular customers are generous & which are not. People assume that the waitstaff & management don't discuss tipping, but the waitstaff brings it to our attention. We have neighbors, family members & close friends that receive complimentary items sent over to their table to show appreciation for their patronage, who do not even tip 10% on the amount of their bill--after the complimentary items. I think it is a hint of their character.
I took my first job when I was in high school waiting tables & I was told then by a female, black coworker not to expect tips from black customers & not to take it personally. That comment was not always true. I have met cheapskates of every nationality that did not leave a gratuity, even after the service was wonderful.I refuse to partake in this forum's racist agreement against black customers,I will agree with the statement that females do not tip as well as men & I do not want to offer a reason for this because this is only my experience. I will tell you that if all of our customers came in & refused to tip, it would be hard to find employees.
Yes, the argument has been made on this thread that the owners should pay a better salary to the waitstaff & remove gratuity, however, this would result in the prices of the meal to increase & would be impossible to offer competitive prices. It would have to become a state or federal law in order to change. That said, the waitstaff pays income taxes on the amount they report from tips, which we also have to account for.
I would also like to respond to the statement that "You do not offer fair service, you do not recieve a fair tip" From my personal experience, this is not true. There will be customers that will not leave a fair tip for absolutely no other reason than they disagree with gratuity,they don't have enough money to cover the check and the gratuity or even they resent the amount of the bill to begin with. If you are good at your job & the establishment you are working for is reputable & desirable, you will not allow yourself to be consumed with the customer who aren't generous because you will make enough money from the ones who do. The absolute end result is that more people are decent tippers than not. Period. It is not an issue of race. I have had customers offer me a larger tip if I gave them free items off of the menu. I have also had customers who have told me that if the prices weren't so high, my tip would have been higher. The bottom line to me is that anyone who has worked in the service industry for any length of time can tell horrible stories about the human race. I challenge anyone who has an unmotivated teen or unruly child to allow them to work for tips in the service industry because if you are lazy, you will not make a living, regardless of the caliber of service. I truly tried to offer you my point of view on this subject without appearing ignorant. I hope you will see my perspective.
black people do not tip.I have delivered pizzas,chinese food in charlotte and other areas and found this to be true. when i leave on a delivery i do not know a persons race until i see them usually unless they are regular customers but i give the same service and still no tip or little tip. I was tipped 4 cent one time and i gave it back telling them no, thanks you obviously need this more than i do.They called and complained tried to get me fired but the owner understood because he makes deliveries also when we are busy. I wish this was not true my sister manages a pizza place and same thing happens all the time.
I always over-tip because I used to work in an industry where I relied on tips. My experience was that black people under-tip and were over-demanding. Now I judge every fellow black person on that basis whether it is true or not! Sad...
why has THIS not been discussed: why in the world don't restaurant owners pay their staff well enough not to have to depend on their own patrons to supplement their staffs' pay? this is the higher question that REALLY needs addressing!
HELL NO i don't tip! my ancestors never got tips working in the field so why should i tip white folks working in a restaurant making wages? is that fair to you???
I am a 21 Year old White Student who waits tables and bartends in my spare time at night after classes. In my experience, while there have been many black people who have left me good tips, the majority do not tip well, if anything, at all.
However, I always make it a personal committment to give the exact great service to someone, no matter what I expect the tip to be. I have a friend who is a girl who is African-American, and she says she tips, but her Mom raised her to never tip a White Waiter or Waitress well. She said she was 18 before she realized that was wrong. I don't know what you can do to make them understand.
I'm black, and I tip according to the level of service. That can range from $0 to the sky's the limit$. Decent service gets you at least 20% at a minimum. If you want more, then do more for this paying customer. TIPS SHOULD BE EARNED.
Maybe the servers are calculating their tip amount based upon the total amount of the check. I know some people that will leave a tip based on their pre-tax total. If the servers take that into account then maybe they'd see that they are being appropriately tipped. As a former server/waiter I always leave a tip of at least 15%. If the poor service is a direct result of the server then I will either leave an amount less than 15% or I will leave a note, or inform the manager. I believe that many people have a preconceived notion that Blacks don't tip, and I think that is incorrect. If the server perceives that I'm not a good tipper because I'm Black and proceeds to provide shoddy service, the the prophecy has been self-fulfilled. Whew - don't get me started!
Wow, this topic has really got people talking.
I am white and have an asian wife. I had never thought about differences in tipping, until one day she told me that blacks leave horrible tips (or no tip) back when she used to work as a waitress, trying to help support her family. Since then, I can notice a difference in tipping... But I would like to point out, the white country folk that rarely go to restaurants such as Apple Bee's, Chili's, etc, also do horrible tipping. I also think that asian's are the most generous tippers on average, but the service better be good or else that tip goes down (which it should). A tip is a reflection of the server's performance during your visit.
I cannot believe the person is making reference to their ancestors and using that as an excuse for not tipping. I was not a slave master nor were anyone in my family. I doubt that the person who wrote that has ever worked as hard as their ancestors and it is disrespectful to them to use them as an excuse for not tipping.
I'm a young black male who works as a pizza delivery driver. Most blacks aren't taught to tip; some are surprise that you are suppose to leave a tip. Once I began working as a delivery driver, and realized how important a tip was. Most black people who don't tip don't know that a waiter only makes 2 something an hour. A lot of times I notice that a waiter will give a black person sub par service because they are black, and believe that they won't be tipped. If they gave them good service they would have been tipped better. Some people black people tip, some don’t. I get a lot of non tips from customers with $300,000 plus houses because they are just plain cheep.
Anyways, I treat every customer the same weather I think I'm getting a tip or not. The people I thought wouldn't give me a tip are the ones who give the best tip of the day. I must say that the worst tippers are Arabs and Indians; they give me exact change every time. I give them the same service because they probably don't know better; even though when I'm walking to the car I cursing under my breath. Lol.
I agree with this assessment. As a Black person who frequents restaurants of all types, I find this to be so true. My standard tip is 20%; if I find that the service is exceptional, I've left up to 40%. I was taught this by my parents. The problem is that most blacks do not feel this way. My daughter and I often talk about this. She lives and works in the Washington DC area and feels that this is do to a lack of education and upbringing. In some ways I think this is true. When you consider that many blacks consider Red Lobster and TGI Fridays upscale restaurants. Sadly, I believe that the root of the problem is economic. This past summer I went to a restaurant with some friends and family. Usually when I go out with friends regardless of who ate what, we split the bill evenly. However, this time, one of the younger members of our group had something on the menu that was about $18 and he decided that $19 was enough for him to leave. I was appalled. I explained to him that waiters and waitresses depend primarily on tips and that since he was a young man who would probably have to work when he got to college, he would probably find himself in this same predicament. He shrugged and said so what. Ironically, he is now a waiter at a popular chain. When I asked him about how tips were he told me he hated to say it but blacks don't tip as well as whites. I reminded him of our night out. All he could say was that he now understood. I'm getting off the subject now though. The bottom line is that if we don't teach one another nothing will change.
I have worked in the industry for over 15 years. Black people on the average do not tip well. I had 5 black servers who tried to avoid waiting on black patrons. Is this correct from either of us? No. But I watch parties of black people that come into my establishment and they feel as if they are owed something from the beginning. I get requests for glasses of Hennessy with only one ice cube, demands for replacement food when they haven't even tried what was brought to them, and claims that they won't tip because they received poor service. It isn't that they didn't get great service they were just looking for any excuse to justify not tipping. The movie Crash hit on a lot of these stereotypes and while most are just that....stereotypes, this is one that is rooted in a practice that is definitely more common that not.
Here is a little history lesson:
The word tips...
To Insure Proper Service.
The "TIPS" are for services rendered.
I begin at 15% and then move up the scale. As a person who has been in the industry 15% is the minimum. Two bucks and change an hour hasn't changed in at least 20 years. Although the cost of everything else has.
What some of you non tippers have to realize is that if you are tipping with your credit or debit card these are automatically deducted from the Bartender or servers check. Which most of the time is pathetic.
Just some food for thought.
I'm probably late on this, but what the hell... I just googled "Black people" "Gratuity" and "Restaurants" and this came up.
I work at a sportsbar/grill. And I can say 2 things. Black people are bad tippers. But on the flipside, the biggest tip I've ever got, was from a black couple.
I'm not racist, at all. But I have grown to stereotype people. The first black group that I served, I gave them excellent service and was tipped 5% on a $190 tab. That's about $10 for a family of 7.
What makes it worse, is they had a few beers/cocktails, of which I have to tip out the 'bartender' 5% per alcohol containing drink.
So I ended up pocketting maybe $4-$6 after the night of service that lasted approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes. And the worst thing was, I was running back and forth cleaning/prebusting/re-filling drinks/getting more condiments etc... And had to clean up a huge mess. All this work in 1 hour and 20 minutes, and I get $6 plus my $2.30/hourly wage.
That's sad.
Next to black people, are foreigners. They either play dumb about gratuity, or just simply assume its tacked on.
But cmon, black people, ya'll are Americans, you know what's up. Why go fine-dining or into a descent restaurant, and not tip or tip crappy?
Even 10% would be appreciated; sometimes I DO feel like a racist, because I try to avoid black people or wont 'jump' on the table as fast as I would another group.
I mean, you say you tip bad because you get bad service? TRUST ME, THAT IS NOT THE CASE WHERE I WORK AT.
Today, I had a family of 10 black people, and THEY WORKED MY ASS OFF. So I assumed they were gonna be shitty tippers, and I had to beg a manager to gratuity the check. It was. Aded 14% (LESS THAN THE STANDARD 15%) and they made a HUGE deal about being 'service charged'... Made it into a racial thing (interesting) and the manager had to come out, comp 50% of their meals (ORIGINAL BILL WAS $94) and then they removed the service charge and they ended up paying only about $43.XX and they left me a $5.
How can us servers ever win? When we're right, we're still wrong. That 'chicken and the egg' argument is complete crap. I give the same service to a black person that I would to some guy who drives to the restaurant in a porsche and sports a rolex.
The only difference is, I know my hard work will be rewarded by only one of those 'groups'.
If you can't afford the restaurant, go fast food... Please.
I am a (black female) server in a mid-range seafood resturant (RL). I have been doing so for about 3 years.
1. I prefer the word gratuity. The patrons should be gratious that they can sit down, eat drink and enjoy their company for 1 and a half plus hours and be waited on hand and foot. The problem with preferring the word gratuity is some folks don't know what that means (trust me I've asked in a angry server moment)
2. Yes, some blacks don't "tip". Many whites don't either. Mexicans with the child interperter sometimes fail to. Asians who sit 5 to a table and order 4 dishes and share somes forget. The moral is culture has a lot to do with it.
3. If your black and grew up in a repressed economic area where there were nothing but fish, chicken, and pizza places, when do you learn the art of leaving gratuity? I grew up in a 89+ percent black city. Trust me, ain't too many Applebee's and TGI Fridays in my neighborhood. I was blessed to have educated parents who taught me proper etiquette and exposed me to experiences outside my normal environment. (and I am college educated as are my parents)
4. As a server I enjoy bringing pleasure to my patrons. I normally do expect the minimum gratuity in return. Unfortunately, I have learned to lower my standards and expectations for certain patrons (to avoid frustration and cursing in the kitchen). If I get more than expected GREAT, less, wasn't looking for much anyway.
5. Black women are a doosey. Yes ya'll are. I've even had black women managers discuss this with me. It's just an ananomiliy. Why? The world may never know. But, there's a trick to certain black families. Tell me if this is true. When one starts off saying I want extra that or this (cheese, onions, crutons, bacon bits ...) give all of them the same. Yep. Even if it means putting it in little bowls and containers and placing it strategically on the table. You ain't gonna run me! Bring plenty of napkins. If you see someone downing the coke, bring 2 next time.
6. Hell, apply that rule to everyone you think is gonna run you. Yeah, black do it more often than not but it applies to everyone. Young white dudes drink a hell of a lot of anything!
I guess what I'm saying is everyone has gripes. I've had to pray long and hard about how I view my own people. It's sad. I grin and bear it now and pray someone leaves me more than 10% during the night...
I am a white female that works at an African American owned spa. Needless to say the majorityt of patrons are black. Which I have not a problem. I would say that 80% yes, 80% of my clients do not tip. I am a massage therapist and I put in 100% to each client No matter the race. I even go over time and include services that are normally extra, free of charge. ie.. Deep tissue, hot stone etc... What gives! I love my boss and have explained the situation and she just shrugs it off because knows some black people just don't tip. I feel better that I have gotten it off my chest. Now I know it's not because I'm a white girl. We all experience this together.
I am a white server in Texas. I have waited tables and bartended for seven years while in college. I will say it, it is true, black people tip less. But here is my approach; I make sure I give exceptional service to black people, and sometimes I get great tips. I think it is because I go above and beyond what they are used to. But the numbers do not lie, across the board the tips are less. I feel bad because I think they usually get poorer service because they are black. I don't know what it is, but I try to make as much money as I can, so I try to give the best service no matter what the race.
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